Sewage-treatment apparatus.



K. IMHOFF. SEWAGE TREATMENT APPARATUS.

. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

Patented June 15, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

2T7? eases If? z/erz Tor 1&1 W ZWM K. IMHOFF.

SEWAGE TREATMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

924,664. Patented June 15,1909

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f777/6777Z7r M1 kw 797 KARL IMHOFF, OF BREDENEY, NEAR ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR,GERMANY.

SEWAGE-TREATMENT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Kay 6, 1907.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial N0. 372,121.

To all whom it'ma-y concern:

Be it known that I, KARL IMHoFF, a subject of the King of Bavaria,residing at Brede'n'ey, near 'Essen-on-the-Ruhr, in Germany,

have invented a Sewage-Treatment Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.-

The basins and wells (also towers) used for the mechanical purifying ofwaste water are worked according to the depositing process or accordingto the decomposin process.-

When the depositingprocess is use the mud is frequently removed in orderto prevent decomposition. The advantage thus secured is that the waterremains fresh, but there is also the disadvantage that a large uantityof wet mud, diflicult to dry, must be isposed of. In the case of thedecomposing process the mud is left in the water for a long time tobecome decomposed. In this case the bulk of the mud is considerablyreduced, and it is more easily dried, but there is the disadvantage thatthe water becomes tainted by the decomposition and is liable to carryaway the particles of mud in a state of suspension, and this isfrequently inconvenient and in 1ur1ous.

The-object of this invention is to combine the advantages of thedepositing process (which keeps the water fresh) with the advantages ofthe decomposing process (which allows of more easily disposing of themud). Apparatus for this purpose is shown, in the annexed drawings inwhich Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a "ertical section, asectional plan and a cross-section of one form of the apparatus. Figs. 4and 5 vertical and horizontal sections of a modified form and Figs. 6and 7 similar sections of another modified form.

The depositing chamber 0,, a basin or well, is connected to muddecomposing chamber in such a manner that the impurities separated passinto the decomposing chamber b, in order to become decomposed therein,but so that the process of decomposition does not afi'ect the fresh,flowing water in the depositing chamber a, or only affects it veryslightly.

'In the decomposing well there are formed, as is the case in alldecomposing chambers, a floating layer and a bottom or ground layer ofmud. Between these two layers is the clarified, decomposing liquid,which is in communication with the water in the depositing chamber. Themud particles driven upward and downward by the gases evolved a well orwells 1) forming a composing chamber below remain in the decomposingwell. If the decomposing well is covered the said gases are removed by aventilator. When decomposed, the mud can be easily removed at intervalsfrom the deepest part of the decomposing well. a

The details of construction of the decomposing Well and-depositingchamber vary according to circumstances. Various constructions embodyingthe invention are shown by way of example in the annexed drawing.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are shown two decomposing wells b with a depositingbasin a. In this construction the basin a is placed over a well or wells6 in such a manner that the mud passes uninterruptedly through bottomapertures a into the well or Wells 1). The floating bodies in the freshwater are held back by a wall or barrier d and pass through apertures einto the well b. The Wells may be connected by additional orifices, forexample at f, in order that they are traversed veryslowly by water.

Figs. 4 and 5, and also Figs. 6 and 7, are sections and plan views ofdecomposing wells in conjunction withdepositing wells. The depositingwell a is, for example, either withinv the decomposing well 1) (Figs. 4and 5), or is annular and external (Figs. 6 and 7). The mud flows to thedecomposing well I) from the deepest parts of the depositin well a. Inthis case also the floating bodies in the fresh water may be kept backby a wall or barrier, as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, andmay be conveyed to the decomposing well by a conduit provided for thaturpose.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-ofthe United States is: v

1. In sewage treatment apparatus the combination of a depositing chamberhaving a mud outlet at the base thereof, a mud dechamber adapted toreceive the deposited the depositingmud, means for preventing the returnof gases and rising particles fromv the decomposing chamber to thedepositing chamber and means for providing a-fiow of liquid throu h thedepositing chamber without distur ing the quiescence of the decomposingchamber.

2. In sewage treatment apparatus thecombination of a depositing chamberthe sides of which converge to a mud outlet at the base thereof and oneof said sides-being out disturbingthe quiescence of the, decomprolon edto extend 'ast the vertical plane posing chamber. 10 throng the ed e oft e other 'ofsa'id sides, a, In witness whereof Ihave signed this speci-,de'composing c amber below the depositing fication in the presenceoftwo witnesses.

5 chamber said decomposingehamber eXLend KARL IMHOFF.-

ing upward. abovethe' level ofthe, sa'id mud Witnesses: l outlet andmeans for providing a flow of l ALFRED Ponpmnnm,

liquid through the depositing chamber with- ENGELS.

